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Omnibus bill may threaten press freedom: Media groups
The Press Council has said the government has not consulted them about the omnibus bill or the proposed revisions.
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Indonesian Press Council logo (dewanpers.or.id/-)
M
edia groups have questioned the proposed revisions to the Press Law set out in the omnibus bill on job creation, fearing that the new provisions will lead to a setback in press freedom.
The Press Council said on Thursday that the government had not consulted them about the bill.
“[The government] should have spoken with the Press Council and other stakeholders if they wanted to make a revision to the press law. But we have not been involved to date,” Press Council member in charge of complaint and press ethics enforcement Arif Zulkifli told The Jakarta Post Thursday.
Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers) advocacy chief Gading Yonggarditya said public participation was a legal aspect of the legislative process.
The omnibus bill seeks to amend Article 11 and 18 of Law No. 40/1999 on the press.
Article 11 of the Press Law states foreign investment in press companies must take place through capital markets. The bill amends the article, stipulating that investment in press companies should follow the Investment Law.
In the revision to Article 18, the omnibus bill increases fines for anyone who hampers the press’ freedom to seek, obtain and disseminate ideas and information, as well as fines for press companies that do not adhere to religious norms, morality and the presumption of innocence in reporting or do not serve the right of reply.
